Stoker



W. C. PEYTON Feb. 6, 1934.

STOKER Filed Sept. 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 vwewtoz William L. Peyton W, C. PEYTON Feb. 6, 1934.

STOKER Filed Sept. 13, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1934. w c PEYTQN 1,945,787

STOKER Filed Sept. 13, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 w, mNam Iii 5] woe/who; Wilda/I1 C. Peyion Patented Feb. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES STOKER William C. Peyton, New York, N. Y., assignor to Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a. corporation of Delaware Application September 13, 1927 Serial No. 219,210

7 Claims.

This invention relates to stokers for boilers of locomotives and the like. The object of the invention is to provide feeding and elevating means for carrying the fuel at a lower conveyor level and then elevating it up to the fire door of the boiler on the outside and then deflecting it in through the fire door opening and distributing it over the fire.

A further object of the invention is to provide this feeding and elevating means in simple, durable form, conveniently and unobstructively placed and occupying a minimum of space.

A further object of the invention is to provide feeding and elevating mechanism which will leave the fire door area practically unrestricted and open for inspection and hand firing when desired.

Further objects of the invention particularly in the structure and combination of the various elements of the feeding, elevating and distributing .mechanism will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the feeding, elevating and distributing means, illustrating one form of the invention applied to a locomotive boiler.

Fig. 2 is a vertical view as seen from line 22 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal plan and sectional view taken on approximately the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively and illustrating a modification.

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan and sectional views respectively of a modified detail, Fig. 8 being a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, and

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively and illustrating a further modification.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, 7 is a locomotive frame; 8 the rear leg of the boiler; 9 the grate and 10 the fire door opening, 11 being the locomotive cab deck.

Below the level of the cab deck the coal is moved forward from the tender in known manner by conveyor screw 12 in conduit 13, and delivered through the universal joint structure designated generally as 14 to the short conveyor screw section 15 on the over-hanging end of the conveyor screw shaft in front of the radial and thrust bearing 16.

The conveyor section 15 is positioned in the entrance end of the expanding elbow 17 supported at 18 from the frame '7 and flanged at 19 to receive ing at its upper end the distributor plate 21 extending into the fire door opening 10, which is of generally oval formation as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

Fitted at the upper end of the conduit housing 20 is the hood member 22 fastened in place by the bolts 23 and carrying at its top the cover piece 24 hinged at 26 to open as indicated in dotted lines and being normally held in closed position by the latch27.

In operation the line of fuel fed through conduit 13 is received in the elbow 17 and maintained under substantially continuous upward pressure by the feed screw 15 forcing the column of coal upward through the housing 20. This housing changes from a generally circular cross sectional shape at the lower portion to an oval form at the upper end widening laterally and increasing gradually in cross sectional area in the direction of flow of the fuel. The laterally widened and forwardly inclined column of fuel is delivered at the upper end of the conduit 20 and from there is passed inward through the fire dooropening to thefire either by mechanical distributing means or by jets of a fluid under pressure. In the particular embodiment shown the rear of the hood 22 is provided with a distributor head 30 adapted to direct jets of steam or air against the rear of the rising column of coal and f orce it forward over the plate 21 and on to the fire. This distributor head comprises a central nozzle opening 31 and divergent side nozzle openings 32 forming spreading jets to direct the coal over a wide range on to the fire. Each supply line 33 for each nozzle opening is provided with a valve 34 so that the operator can direct the coal to various portions of the fire bed by control of the distributor jets.

To direct the fuel sidewise to the back corners of the fire space auxiliary nozzles 35 are provided protruding upward through slots in the distributor plate 21 and fed from a header 36 receiving its supply of steam from pipes 37 preferably of copper. The jet openings 38 of nozzles 35 are directed sidewise with a forward component so as to force the coal to the side and back of the fire, the pipes 37 having control valves similar to valves 34 to be actuated by the fireman.

By these distributing jets the column of coal is broken up and forced in through the fire door opening and on to the fire, the primary jets being within the hood and the secondary jets being within the fire door opening.

The distributor plate 21 is preferably made detachable as shown fitting in between thesides of the hood 22 and having the supporting lugs 41' hooked into the recesses 42 of the hood while the rear end of the plate is fastened in place by the lug and pin connection 43.

The hood construction of this invention is laterally wide and vertically shallow and occupies only a lower portion of the fire door opening leaving the remaining portion of the opening clear for hand stoking whenever desired, the fire doors being modified as shown in Figs. 4 and 6 to provide for the entrance of the hood construction into the opening.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 to 8, the vertical conduit housing 20 is provided with a splitting wedge surface 45 to aid in the change from the circular form of the fuel column. This wedge is centrally located and preferably at the back of the conduit 20' as shown and its action is to convert the upward thrust of the coalinto lateral thrusts so as to spread the coal out sidewise and avoid packing and jamming, particularly with certain softer grades of fuel. This wedge splitter will in general be formed to protrude part way across the conduit and will gradually and smoothly expand laterally to a max- A imum at its upper end where the column is taken up by the distributor jets. Such a splitting wedge may of course be used equally well in the cor-.

responding vertical conduits of Figs. 1, 3, and 9 to 11. The vertical conduits may also be pro- 1 vided, if desired, with positively driven fuel ele- Vating means carrying the coal upward from the elbow 17 and delivering it at the fire door opening.

Instead of auxiliary jets to divert the coal to the back corners of thefire the modifications of Figs. 5 to 8 provide the specially shaped distributor plate 21 having guiding chutes 47 on each side to receive the stream of fuel and'deflect it sidewise. Each of these guides comprises a bo v tom surface 48 curving downward and a front end surface 49 curving outward to divert the fuel impinging against it. At lower velocities of the side jets from openings 32 a larger proportion of the fuel will be distributed by these deflectors to the rear corners of the fire and at higher velocities more of the fuel will reach further forward so that the operator controls the amount of coal to the various points by manipulation of the valves 34.

. A modified form of deflector is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein the distributorplate 50 has corner pieces 51 protruding upward with deflecting surfaces 52 curving tothe side. The upper portion of eachcorner piece is formed as an overhanging roof or flange 53 to deflect the fuel downwardly.

With the apparatus of my invention the coal is brought to the boiler at a low level below the floor or cab deck and isthen elevated to the level of the fire'door opening. under pressiu'e of the same fuel. It is simply turned upward in column formation. Then as the column of fuel reaches the topit is deflected forward and distributed over the fire. The jets at the rear break up the 7 column, as it reaches the top of the vertical housing, and deliver the fuel through the fire door to all parts of the fire. Only a small space is occupied by the feed conduit directly behind the boiler and there is no substantial interference with hand staking when desired. The entire vertical column and the distributor hood are accessible for inspection by opening the cover 24 so that the interior can be easily reached and thefuel readily loosened if it becomes jammed.

A further modification particularly adapted for fuel not tending to pack too solidly under pressure is disclosed in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive. In this modification the fuel in loose column form passes up through the housing 120 and overflows on to the distributor plate or guard flange 121.

Surrounding the outer edge of the fire door opening is the rim member 123 fastened in place in any desired manner on the rear surface of the boiler and hinged to the rim member at 125 are the sections 126, 127 of a two piece fire door forming a deflecting elbow for the coal fed up through the housing 120. In closed position (Fig. 9) the front edges 128 of these door sections rest against the rim member 123 and their lower edges just clear the apron flange 129 of the vertical housing 120 so as to form a closed space of elbow formation. The doors 126, 127 are held closed by the pivoted latches 130 and when released the doors may be swung fully open so that the fire door area is free and unobstructed for hand stoking when desired.

In operation the line of fuel fed through conduit 13 is received in the elbow 17 and maintained under substantially continuous upward pressure by the feed screw 15 forcing the column of coal upward through the housing 120 so that it overflows at the top and is deflected by the door elbow formation over into the fire door opening and over the guard flange 121 onto the distributing table 131. It will be observed that the upwardly directed extensions at the opposite sides of the distributor plate 121 constitute guard flanges to protect the firebox sheets from the abrasive actionof the fuel.

To distribute the coal over the surface of the fire a distributing head 132 with steam nozzles 133'is provided fitting the lower surface of the fire door opening and protruding inward from under the guard flange 121. Rear arms 134 of the distributing head extend outwardly on each side and steam supply passages are cored through these arms and the head to the nozzle openings 133, the steam being supplied to these passages by pipes 135 controlled by valves 136, one for of the opening 10 and the lower surface of the guard flange 121. The rim member 123 and distributor head structure form a complete circuit around the fire door opening and are stationary with-the rear leg structure, the doors 126,127 being carried by the rim as above described. The vertical housing 120 with its guard flange 121 is independently supported from the frame, and clearance is provided for the expansion of the boiler which moves the rear fire leg relatively backward. During such expansion the guard flange 121 will protrude further into the fire door opening, the distributor head 132 being arched as indicated at 140 to permit this relative movement, and the door sections 126, 127 will move back slightly on the housing flange 129.

The distributing table 131 may be independently supported in place or may be bolted to lugs extending downward from the distributor head as indicated at 141.

With the apparatus of Figs. 9 to 11 the door 1 elbow formation deflects the coal as it reaches the fire door level and forces the coal into the fire door opening to be distributed over the fire. The opening of these doors also exposes the entire vertical housing so that the feed of the column of fuel therethrough can be readily inspected and loosened in case it becomes jammed.

I claim:

1. In a stoker for a boiler the combination with the firebox of the boiler having a. firedoor opening in its rear wall, of a conduit out of line with the fire door opening of the boiler, a conduit elbow having horizontally and vertically disposed portions receiving the fuel from said conduit and turning and guiding it upward, conveying means adapted to exert a feeding pressure on the column of fuel as it enters said elbow, a vertically disposed housing of generally circular formation at its entrance end receiving the upwardly moving fuel from said elbow and widening transversely while narrowing longitudinally so as to change the shape of the fuel column while passing it upward to a point adjacent the fire door opening, a splitting wedge guide positioned wholly within the vertical housing at the upper rear portion thereof, said wedge being V-shaped in cross section and the sides thereof forming a cusp with its edge within the path of the rising column of fuel to aid in the change of the form of the fuel column and convert the upward thrust of the fuel into lateral thrust spreading the fuel out sidewise, a hood formation at the upper end of said housing extending into said fire door opening and means at the rear of said hood and substantially behind the fuel column for turning the fuel to pass its forward horizontally through said hood formation and fire door to the fire.

2. In a stoker for a boiler, the combination with the boiler having a firedoor opening in its rear wall, of a conduit section below the level of the firedoor opening of the boiler, a riser conduit comprising a rearward substantially horizontally extending lower elbow portion, and a vertically disposed riser portion at its upper end turning horizontally toward and communicating with said firedoor opening, conveying means adapted to exert a feeding pressure on the column of fuel as it enters said elbow portion, said riser portion adjacent said elbow portion being of generally circular formation and receiving the upwardly moving fuel from said elbow and widening transversely while narrowing longitudinally so as to change the shape of the fuel column while passing it upwardly to a point adjacent the firedoor opening, a rigid splitting wedge guide positioned wholly within the vertically disposed portion of the riser conduit below the upper horizontally directed portion, and fixed to an upright back wall of said vertical portion adjacent the upper end thereof, said wedge at its top being V-shaped in horizontal cross section with its side surfaces curving laterally to merge with the riser wall, the sides of the wedge forming a cusp with the inner edge within the path of the rising column of fuel to impart thereto a lateral component or force to aid in the change of form of the fuel column and convert the upward thrust of fuel into lateral thrusts spreading the fuel out sidewise, and means at the upper end of said conduit for projecting and distributing the fuel over the fire.

3. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening in a wall thereof, a fuel conduit disposed exteriorly of the firebox communicating with said firebox through said firing opening, a distributor member extending from said conduit into the firing opening, a pin and lug connection between said conduit and said member wholly disposed outside the firebox, said connection constructed to prevent longitudinal movement of the distributor member, and means disposed in the firing opening supporting said member intermediate its ends and constructed to prevent pivotal movement thereof about said pin and lug connection.

4. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening in a wall thereof, a fuel conduit mounted exteriorly of said wall and communicating with said firebox through said firing opening, a distributor member extending from the discharge end of said fuel conduit into said firing opening, a pin and lug connection between said conduit and said member wholly disposed outside the firebox, said connection constructed to prevent longitudinal movement of the distributor member, an upright wall at the discharge end of said fuel conduit, and an arm formed with said distributor member engaging said upright wall for supporting said distributor member and preventing pivotal movement thereof about said pin and lug connection.

5. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening in a wall thereof, a fuel conduit mounted exteriorly of said wall and communicating with said firebox through said firing opening, a distributor member extending from the discharge end of said fuel conduit into said firing opening, a pin and lug connection between said conduit and said member wholly disposed outside the firebox, said connection constructed to prevent longitudinal movement of the distributor member, the discharge end of said fuel conduit including upstanding side walls, and an arm formed at each side of said distributor member engaging the respective upstanding side wall of the discharge end of said fuel conduit for supporting said member and preventing pivotal movement thereof about said pin and lug connection.

6. A fuel distributor member comprising a plate section over which fuel passes for delivery into the firebox, said distributor member on the under side and adjacent one end thereof being provided with one element of a pin and lug connection, and an arm extending from each side of said member and intermediate the ends thereof, said arm extending above the level of said plate section, the free end of said arm having a laterally inturned extension lug.

7. In a stoker, in combination, an upstanding conduit, means for conveying fuel to the base of the conduit and for forcing it upwardly therethrough in columnar formation, fuel projecting means associated with the discharge end of the conduit for projecting fuel therefrom, and fuel splitting means adjacent the discharge end of the conduit acting on the fuel column prior to the action of the fuel projecting means, said splitting means consisting of a wedged shaped member constructed in approximately the form of a tetrahedron and disposed on the rear wall of the conduit in the path of the advancing column of fuel and arranged with two triangular sides thereof extending angularly toward one an- I other from said wall to form an inclined splitting edge having a point directed downwardly in the conduit at the aforesaid wall thereof.

WILLIAM C. PEYTON. 

